Stephanie Helms Pickett Named Director of Duke University Women's Center

In her eighth year at Duke, she served as interim director since the fall

Editor's Note: A photo of Helms Pickett is available by contacting Chris Heltne.

Durham, NC - Stephanie Helms Pickett has been named director of the Women's Center at Duke University, the school announced Tuesday.

Helms Pickett, who served as interim director of the center since last fall, begins her permanent position immediately.

Now in her eighth year at Duke, Helms Pickett's other roles at the university have included directing Assessment and Professional Development within Student Affairs, chairing Duke's Bias Analysis Task Force and serving on the Task Force on Gender and the Undergraduate Experience.

"Her breadth of experience has given Stephanie a wide angle view of many of the gender issues our students encounter on campus," said Zoila Airall, assistant vice president for Campus Life at Duke. "We have the great fortune to have someone with her expertise here at Duke. Her experience, openness, leadership abilities and vision will benefit everyone served by the Women's Center."

The Women's Center provides advocacy for individuals and groups that experience gender-related problems, implements educational and prevention programming grounded in theory, and advances social justice. Helms Pickett said the center is open to everyone on campus, not just women.

"I hope to inspire a deepened sense of community so that women's issues overall are not only heard, but responded to," Helms Pickett said, adding that she's looking forward to working directly with students.

Before coming to Duke, Helms Pickett worked at Bennett College, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, Durham Public Schools and Meredith College. She has been an instructor at Duke and Walden University, and holds numerous professional and committee appointments. She has published two books, "Later Never Came Until Now" and "Her Name is SHE."